Notes on Team Building and Leadership Training

Notes on Team Building and Leadership Training

(James Neill, 2005, Wilderdom) A team is a group of people who come together temporarily to achieve a purpose. There is no magic formula for "building a team". Teams are organic - they grow and change - so make use of the opportunities that change offers.

Team Building (or ‘teambuilding') refers to the process of establishing and developing a greater sense of collaboration and trust between team members.

Team Building Activities are stimulating problem-solving tasks designed to help group members develop their communication skills and capacity to work effectively together.

Team Building Exercises can be adapted for virtually any setting, young or old, large or small, and across cultures. Different team building activities facilitated in different ways with different groups can and will lead to a wide variety of different experiences and different outcomes. Even the simplest game can become a significant experience for participants; an important part of team building exercises is participants' reflection and discussion about the activity, how they approached the situation, and possible points of learning.

Outdoor expeditions are a fantastic way to give depth and understanding to the school-based learning experience. Seeing understands! Participants find themselves in new environments, out of their comfort zone, opening their minds to new ways of looking at life, leading to important advances in physical, personal and social education.

We do this in a fun and exciting way, using a method that combines learning and experience, otherwise known as experiential learning. Team-building, respect, integrity and self-development are all at the core of our training.

The trips are designed so that enjoyment is maximized. Accommodation is always good, food always plentiful and there is always a member of staff on hand to listen and help out if needed. Without ever realizing it, participants are being educated and asked to analyze their responses and behaviors. Participants are included in their own analysis and it is this inclusive and honest approach that brings out the best in participants, maximizing potential and bringing out mature responses to challenging situations.

Motivational team-building events and games, learning about new cultures, facing exciting physical and mental challenges, honesty and integrity, forging new friendships and discovering a world of opportunities.